<nettime> streaming media software for arts released

[r a d i o q u a l i a <honor@va.com.au>]

R A D I O Q U A L I A ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF:

	The Frequency Clock: Free Media System
	(public version 1.0 beta)


Software release at:	http://frequencyclock.montevideo.nl
General info: 		http://www.frequencyclock.net/index2.html

The Frequency Clock: Free Media System is a open source software system
created to manage streaming audio and video channels.
This unique set of software tools enables website producers to programme
online 'channels' of audio or video for their websites, bringing televisual
or radio-like experiences to their website.

The Frequency Clock Free Media System is designed for people who work with
streaming media material. It allows creators and users of streaming media
to organise their files into dynamic channels which can be played back
using a specially designed web-based streaming media player.

For producers of online media, the Frequency Clock Free Media System is a
powerful content management system, which provides sophisticated control
over streaming data. Key features of the system include an inventive
customised streaming media player, which can handle different file types,
searchable archives, and real-time statistical analysis.

The Frequency Clock: Free Media System is free and open source.  It is
created by r a d i o q u a l i a <http://www.radioqualia.net> with the
input of many developers, artists, designers and cultural practitioners,
specifically with arts, cultural and independent broadcasting in mind.


*	WHAT DOES IT DO?

The Frequency Clock Free Media System is a shared resource for building
streaming channels. It features a programme database, timetabling system
and a customised streaming media player:


*	PLAYER

Perhaps the most significant and innovative element of the system is the
Frequency Clock Player. The Player addresses one of the key issues that
producers of streaming media face - the range of different streaming media
formats. Streaming media content can be produced in a variety of different
proprietary formats - for example, WindowsMedia, Real, and Quicktime. When
users play a streaming media file, it opens within a specific streaming
media player. If you watch a WindowsMedia file, it opens in the
WindowsMedia player, a Real file opens within the Real Player and so on.
Users must open and close a number of players in order to view different
streaming media formats. This can be disruptive to the continuity of the
experience.
The Frequency Clock Player is possibly one of the first streaming media
players to be able to play back all streaming media file types, within the
same player. This is an important innovation, which can provide for a
seamless experience for users, despite the fact that channels may be
comprised of many different file types.

One of the other issues which arises when using streaming media, is that
content usually has to be presented within the design context of the
various commerical media players. For many users this is undesirable. The
Frequency Clock Player provides a solution to this problem, by allowing
significant elements of customisation. Producers have control over the
Player's look and feel, enabling them to design their Player, so that it
fits within the overall design of their website.

You can see images of customised Players, by visiting:
http://www.frequencyclock.net/index2.html


*	TIMETABLER

The engine which drives the creation of streaming channels is a programme
database and timetable generator. The programme database stores information
about live and pre-recorded streaming audio or video programmes. It is
essentially a database for managing meta-data (information and links to
programmes, rather than the programmes themselves), and can organise
information about files stored anywhere on the internet.

The timetabling system is a tool for placing entries from the database into
a schedule. Users can timetable audio or video programmes from the database
into specific time slots within their schedule, creating a continuous and
ongoing channel, or alternatively, a channel which broadcasts only at
special times. Producers can also instruct the timetabling system to play
'default' audio or video, when a time slot has nothing scheduled. This
means that audiences will always have something to see or hear when
visiting a channel.

For further information on the functionality of The Frequency Clock: Free
Media System, please visit: http://www.frequencyclock.net/index2.html


*	STATISTICS

The Frequency Clock: Free Media System also contains an effective
statistical analysis system. Producers can receive real time updates of the
number of users connected, how long they've been connected, from which
country they are connecting from, and what operating system and streaming
media software they are running. Usually this information can only be
supplied from server logs, which are not usually available to producers in
real time. This kind of statistical monitoring allows producers to get
immediate feedback about their channels, and adjust programming
accordingly.


*	BACKGROUND

The Frequency Clock Free Media System is part of a larger ongoing project
called The Frequency Clock by the online art group, r a d i o q u a l i a
<http://www.radioqualia.net>. The project began as an artwork which created
ways for net.based audio and video files to be experienced within
traditional broadcast mediums such as radio and television.

In order to make this process possible, it was necessary to develop
reliable interactive software which allowed users to construct of
timetables of live and archived streaming media content, and a mechanism
which could play back these timetables. Four years of research, conceptual
and pragmatic experimentation, and shared code development has resulted in
the Frequency Clock: Free Media System.

For more information about The Frequency Clock, visit:
http://radioqualia.va.com.au/freqclock/central.html


*	WHO IS IT FOR?

The Frequency Clock: Free Media System is aimed at cultural producers of
audio and video, who wish to present their material online. Existing or
past users of the system include: community radio stations, community cable
television operators, film and video organisations, museums and galleries,
filmmakers and documentary-makers, artists, DJs and musicians.

The system could also be utilised by independent news broadcasters, film
festivals, conferences and any other developers of cultural content.

The Frequency Clock: Free Media System would also be useful for any
organisation or individual who uses streaming media for presenting or
archiving events, such as conferences, meetings, briefings, workshops,
festivals, film productions, or streaming files such as music videos, short
films, animations, workshop footage, performances etc.

What the users of The Frequency Clock: Free Media System say:

"its an excellent concept thats going to play a big part in the near future
of streaming / audio/video"

"i really hope it will make life easier and even more interesting to number
of people, the creators of streming content - and somehow - i don't doubt
it will."

"The Arts Online: More Often More Better
Open Platform for the Arts
FQ: Streaming the Real World to You"

"I see great potential in the frequency clock. a self-subscribed multi
channel programming [environment]. in a communal sense, it also allows
intervention to happen."

There are other Frequency Clock systems implemented at:
- Dekspc: 	http://bigboy.spc.org/fc/index.php
- MN Artists: 	http://fc.mnartists.org


*	CREDITS

The Frequency Clock: Free Media System was made possible by:
- The Netherlands Media Art Institute, Montevideo/Time Based Arts
- The Walker Art Centre / MN Artists
- The Australian Federal Government through its arts funding and advisory
body, the Australia Council
- Kunstradio
- Virtual Artists

r a d i o q u a l i a would also like to thank: Robert Geus, Nic Limper,
The Society for Old and New Media, James Stevens, Luka Princic, Vedran
Gulin / mi2, Micz Flor, Radio FRO, Mauzz / De Digital Stadt, The World
Service, The South Australian Government through Arts SA, The Experimental
Art Foundation, the Australian Network for Art and Technology, the Media
Resource Centre, Kass Schmitt, Rene Leitof, Alex Galloway, Gio D'Angelo,
Luka Frelih, Salto TV and Source Forge & Xchange.


*	MORE INFORMATION

If you would like more information about The Frequency Clock: Free Media
System, please contact:

r a d i o q u a l i a
Adam Hyde or Honor Harger

PH: + 31 6 29036248
Email: radioqualia@va.com.au   or    adam@xs4all.nl
URL: http://www.radioqualia.net


__________________________________________

r   a   d   i   o   q   u   a   l   i   a


                   ((o))

f  r e q u e n c y  s h i f t i n g  p a r a d i g m s
i n  s t r e a m i n g  a u d i o

in residence at makrolab
http://www.radioqualia.net/makrolab/


radioqualia@va.com.au
http://www.radioqualia.va.com.au/


supported by virtual artists (VA)
http://www.va.com.au


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